Guilty As Charged: High Court Convicts Mike Chimombe And Moses Mpofu

High Court Finds Chimombe And Mpofu Guilty Of Fraud

In a dramatic conclusion to one of Zimbabwe’s most closely followed corruption cases, controversial businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu have been found guilty of fraud. The High Court in Harare delivered the verdict on 22 October 2025, after months of testimony that laid bare shocking details of how a multi-million-dollar government scheme collapsed.

The two men, who have been in custody since their arrest in 2024, were remanded in custody for sentencing on 31 October. Justice Pisirayi Kwenda spent nearly three hours reading the judgment before announcing the guilty verdict shortly after 6 PM.

The Fraud Charges

The case centred on the Presidential Goat Scheme, a government project meant to empower rural farmers by distributing livestock. Chimombe and Mpofu’s company, Blackdeck, won a tender in 2021 to supply 600,000 goats to the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to court evidence, the pair were paid ZW$1.9 billion (then US$7.9 million / R147.5 million) in two instalments in April and June 2022. In return, they delivered fewer than 3,000 goats — a fraction of the promised total.

Former agriculture secretary John Basera, who testified in May 2025, said the ministry had relied on documents later discovered to have been forged.

“The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe had issued a no-objection letter for the deal, but it later turned out the supplier had submitted forged ZIMRA documents,” Basera told the court.

He further explained how negotiations initially reduced the price of each goat from between US$175 (R3,270) and US$250 (R4,670) to between US$75 (R1,400) and US$95 (R1,775), depending on the breed. Despite this, Blackdeck failed to deliver.

“When our officials went to confirm the goats, we found less than 3,000 in the holding pens. The ministry then demanded restitution or guarantees,” Basera testified.

The judge found that Chimombe and Mpofu had deliberately misrepresented their company’s capacity and misappropriated funds meant for the livestock project.

A Swift Verdict And Immediate Custody

Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudi confirmed the state’s readiness to proceed with sentencing. Although 29 October was initially suggested, consultations between the defence, the prosecution, and Justice Kwenda led to the sentencing being set for 31 October.

Both men were formally remanded in custody to await that hearing.

“The court has spoken. They have been found guilty on all counts. The matter is now about sentencing,” a source close to proceedings said.

The Fall Of Business Titans

Once considered influential players in Zimbabwe’s business sector, Chimombe and Mpofu’s downfall has been swift and public. Their conviction marks one of the most significant corruption rulings in recent years.

What Comes Next?

On 31 October, the High Court will hear arguments from both the prosecution and defence before Justice Kwenda delivers his sentence. Legal experts say the gravity of the crime, the prejudice caused to the state, and the amount involved will weigh heavily in the judge’s decision.

“The sentencing hearing is critical,” one legal expert explained. “The court will balance punishment against any mitigating factors. But given the scale of the fraud, a custodial sentence appears highly likely.”

Zimbabwe now awaits the final chapter of a legal saga that has gripped the nation for more than a year.